Life Coaching: The Things We Survive

It’s been said that that which does not kill us makes us stronger. I myself have survived a few things…For example, I drank some sort of noxious liquid from little wax Coca-Cola bottles and gained no strength from it. I ate candy cigarettes full of sugar and it didn’t help me with my stamina or endurance. I burned patchouli incense and didn’t choke to death from the fumes, which is a miracle. These things did not make me strong, they made me cautious. Well, actually I can still taste the candy cigarettes by just typing the words…so maybe I was a bit hasty on that one.

I am not certain that being a survivor has made me stronger. I believe I was already strong, which made me a survivor by proxy. We survive precisely because we are strong. Perhaps our strength just needed to be proven. Perhaps it was curled inside us all along, brought out by wax Coca-Cola bottles, candy cigarettes , patchouli incense, and such.

We are the sum of our parts. With each trial, we have a choice. We can let it overtake us, or we can use the knowledge we gained to mold our lives into something worthy, honorable and pleasing to God. When we are weak (which is pretty doggone often), He is strong. His strength is our strength.

What can we do today to show our courage and strength? How can we move forward boldly in the midst of our struggle? How can we use our God-given abilities to be the strong men and women of God He intended ya to be? These are questions for us to ponder today. For some, we focus on what’s ahead, planning our movements meticulously. For others, we flit about like the little butterflies, taking life as it comes. And no matter which camp we fit into, our reliance on God must be our primary focus for whatever comes our way.

Be strong and courageous. Don’t be dismayed or afraid. For the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”